ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

very cool tyler! it's great to have one central location for all of the ojai related info and news. you're the bomb.

incredible work...you're the anti-bomb, because with these resources readily available, there's no excuse for anyone to march into a City Council (or other public) meeting "armed" with misinformation! here's to accountability and transparency, and the WORK (gasp!) that it requires. here's also to democracy, the free flow of information, and building relationships WITH our elected officials, and to the greater Peace that comes from that.

Wow!

Tres Cool!

Hi Tyler, Great Site! Great Service!
My first reaction was that I liked the ojai post presentation better. Now I'm used to it and liking it but it is just a bit difficult for my old eyes to read. But Thank You for such great work. Joe G.

thanks for all the love Ojai!

"We'll climb that hill no matter how steep ... "

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rYKGE6erN0Q

By going mainstream commercial, you've marginalized and diluted the Ojai Post, the best thing Ojai had. In my opinion, you've been co-opted by playing into the hand of Ojai's nemesis. You've been divided and conquered.

Dear Dennis -

What is The Ojai Post - is it not "mainstream" Ojai? Is it "fringe" Ojai, and that's why you like to participate? Do you assume that the Post exists solely to allow you to write epic diatribes? Let me assure you, it doesn't. Let me assure you also that the readership demographic is significantly broader than the commenter demographic.

What would have far greater potential to "marginalize and dilute" the Post, would be for me to take advertising on the Post itself. But I don't, it's free, and I am committed to that position.

By having advertising opportunities on OjaiNews.com, I am able to hire an editor and work with various government organizations to promote transparency and accountability at the government level.

In my opinion, your opinion doesn't hold water. If you reply with an epic diatribe, please use paragraph breaks at the very least.

Tyler

Why feed the troll?

point taken, Anonymous. :)

"Feel free to beta test the site, and leave comments, suggestions or throw a tomato or two in the comments. Hope you enjoy it!"

So Dennis Leary does just that and gets unmercifully attacked not only by you, Tyler, but by an "Anonymous" poser (pun intended).

I discovered the Ojai Post during the Day Fire, and thought it was just terrific. Now, it seems, it's just another Ojai club, the members of which marginalize and personally attack anyone who dares to express an opposing position.

Is this enough paragraph breaks for you, Tyler?

-Cathy Elliott Jones

I don't get it. Why is Dennis mad? What advertising? Does it cost money to get something on the new news? Does Dennis have something against colon hydrotherapists?

Hi Cathy -

Was I "unmerciful"? By inviting this community to beta test, I was looking for feedback, good or bad, on OjaiNews.com.

Dennis took a jab at me, in a way that really had nothing to do with OjaiNews.com, and I replied.

It's great to have you participate - you should come around more often.

Hi Sean -

OjaiNews.com has some monthly ad banner slots for local businesses at the top of the page. Hopefully they will cover the cost of a part-time editor, so that the site can continue to fulfill its goal of aiding transparency and accountability at the government level, as objectively as possible.

Hey Tyler,

I've just got to say that I can't remember the last time I've seen someone with less ethics and more pomposity than you! I think if you are going to last in your chosen line of work you had better get a thicker skin.

~~

"If you never know truth then you never know love"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PJV9EMkv0u4

Millennium Twain

~~

What's wrong with the world, mama?
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas 'yeah' we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Nigga, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With the ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' in the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

And People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Now Sing With Me All (One World, One World)
We Only Got (One World, One World)
That's All We Got

(One World, One World)
(One World, One World)

And Somethin's Wrong With It
And Somethin's Wrong With It
Somethings Wrong With The Good World World
Yeah

We Only Got (One World, One World)
That's All We Got (One World, One World)

..

Dear Longtime Ojai Journalist -

In what way have I demonstrated a lack of ethics? If that perception is out there, please let me know, because I always strive to be as ethical as possible in my personal and business relationships. I'd appreciate the opportunity to address it.

Tyler,

In my humble opinion, your logical, intelligent, clear, concise, level-headed, relevant and often satirical posts speak for themselves. As do your very ambitious and quite successful projects. I don't think you have to waste your time defending yourself to anyone.

Looks good to me Tyler. And, as an aside, hopefully not too snide, is anyone else more tired of MT's non-sequiturs then they are of Dennis' admittedly long winded, but at least on point comments?

What I don't get is why Dennis takes all the heat? "Millenium Twain" writes just as long, but nobody bothers him.

Is the reason that Dennis is right, he speaks the truth, and the truth ain't what alot of people want to hear? People can't not read Dennis' posts, because they say something. The reaction of those who don't want to hear the substance is "shut up Dennis."

Millenium Twain speaks nonsense, so nobody has any problem ignoring his long posts I guess.

First of all, no one writes any where near the amount that Dennis Leary does. No one! Secondly, it's not necessarily what he writes but how he expresses himself that, after much time, has simply frayed peoples nerves. We understand what his point of view is - we understood it tens of thousands of words ago. It's not all that novel. And it's not all that "radical" because after all - what does he offer up except a string of directionless, often unconnected words? (Rhetoric is cheap) Although sometimes (in his self-declared stream of consciousness) he comes across as bizarre and nearly unhinged. He just refuses to get (and many have tried to gently coax him along) that just spewing words out into the void doesn't make him a good or interesting writer, philosopher, or whatever it is he aims to be. His unparalled ability to repeat the same old thing over and over again (without backing anything up with facts, statistics, decent or interesting analogies - you know, the stuff of good writing) he just continues down a very selfish path (i.e. self-publishing his thoughts, feelings, rants and raves). And then, when people object or try to point out inconsistencies or illogical trains of thought, they get attacked as not caring about Ojai, the world, etc. or are "unenlightened", blind, ignorant, etc. to what's going on, or have "sound-bite mentalities, yada yada yada...blah, blah, blah....

He would do very well to compare his posts to the many other thoughtful, astute and interesting ones out there.

May I humbly suggest that all those who regularly Post at length, take a writing workshop and enlist the help of an editor for anything over 400 words. By "editor" I mean a friend, spouse, other family member, another writer or almost any sober, awake, alert adult in the vicinity who is willing to look over your shoulder and read your Post. Ask your editor a simple question: "Does this make sense?" Doesn't that sound reasonable? And if your editor's eyes cross and he or she runs off screaming and pulling their hair out, think twice before sending your Post!

Whoops, I meant to say,
"...who is willing to look over your shoulder and read your Preview."

Anonymous 6:14 AM,

It's abundantly clear that YOU think Dennis writes too much, but we don't even know who you are. I do know that you spend an inordinate amount of time worrying and writing about how much Dennis writes. Once more from the top...Dennis can write whatever he wants and so can everybody else. If you have a problem with the content of his screeds, post your arguments here. If it is simply word count, we get it, you don't like to read a lot. Just how many words have you expended on the Post regarding the over abundance of Dennis' posts? Give it a rest and simply move on.

I like that idea. I don't have anyone to look over my shoulder. There have been times I write and finish, then, due to my greatest virtue, compassion, I hit the [X] button to spare everyone. I wasn't feeling to compassionate today.

I like the parchment style background of the OjaiNews.

I understand the taking on of ads to offset cost or even to make a few dollars. Something has to pay the bills, Manna doesn't always come from the heavens.

Here on the post, reading has gotten more difficult with the smaller print. If the print on the OjaiNews is the same size as here, I'll have trouble. Tyler will have to mail me a handy dandy OP insignia magnifying glass. Tyler, if you stay with smaller print size, would it be to big of pain in the xxx to have an enlarge print function feature?

Another thing, I'm not insinuating anything here at all, but wasn't it ironic or at least queer that the day the OjaiNews went public, the OjaiValleyNews went off due to a cyber attack from Indonesia? Am I the only one to notice this? Again, I believe it was a coincidence, but how bizzare.

SKP - I can assure you this is the very first message I have written about this unfortunate subject. I have, however, been reading more and more the MANY posts by different authors (both anonymous and otherwise) about Dennis Leary's consistent desire to co-opt this site.

Your attack above is beneath you - you are simply not getting what I know many people are. To simply suggest that I "don't like to read a lot" is incredibly absurd!! I suggest that YOU do some reading and go back and peruse the many comments written over the course of the last year. Maybe then you would refrain from posting silly, unfounded comments to ALL of us out here who don't need to "get over it" but who would like to have one thread go by without a sensless diatribe, without a sermon, and without being called "unenlightened" "sheeple" just because we've had enough!

By the way, still contend that someone was impersonating Suza a few threads back??

Dana - thanks much for the feedback! Very much appreciated.

I might make the text on the comments her on the Post a larger font size (not sure yet, I personally like it smaller, as there is a lot of info to digest).

But in the meantime, you can control the font size yourself - check out Suza's site for an easy explanation.
http://www.suzafrancina.com/changing_the_text_size.shtml

Cheers, Tyler

My initial reaction to ON (OjaiNews.com) was fear that it would harm OP (Ojai Post). I now understand better why I was upset. I was not properly distinguishing ON from MSM (mainstream media). Tyler interpreted my comments on ON as a "jab." I don't think that is the case. I wasn't making a jab; I was reacting to what I perceived was a bad move. I saw ON moving in the direction of the MSM which is towards money and protecting the status quo. In fact, ON may not be doing that; and I certainly hope will not do that. ON could show the way not to do that. If I understood Tyler's and Tanya's (sorry if I got that name wrong) replies, perhaps ON is more like a data base of information than an op/ed outlet. I like OP because it is not mainstream and challenges the status quo. I am angry at the MSM because it has betrayed its trust, especially on the national level. The press should be a countercheck to the corruptions of government. Instead it has been bought out by the financial elites and now spews out propaganda for the money system. Anyone who gets their information from MSM without balance from some other source is sure to be brainwashed and spirit dulled, if not killed. MSM does not ask questions about truth; it is filled with fluff and puff and outright lies. It is not so much what it says but what it does not say. It should be asking the tough questions. Asking tough questions is not popular and irritates advertisers and their co-dependent consumers. Among MSM outlets there are virtually no truth seekers. Even so called alternative sources like Nation and Alternet refuse to accept the truth of 911, that it was an inside job. I have to go to the internet for the truth, and then I have to find those precious few sites that are not subsumed by the tsunami of ignorance and denial that fill the airwaves today. It's mush and it makes brainwaves mush too. All of which indicates my fear that ON may fall into a similar trap. I want Ojai to think and feel deeply about what is important to her survival; not be pampered by a phony money culture.

The OP allows me to get my message out, even if it falls on deaf or uncomprehending ears. I have a need to express myself in a community of peers. There is no other outlet like this in Ojai. It's great and it serves my needs. It may be that what I say is useless and irritating but it also may be that I am stirring up something that needs stirring up. I intend to keep the pot stirred up, to awaken the sleepers and those drugged by the stew dished out continuously by shallow media outlets.

I like the format and colors of the ON. I find it very attractive. Whether it turns out to be shallow and catering to low intelligence levels remains to be seen. Whether it will challenge government when government needs confronting also remains to be seen. Perhaps ON can make it in the business world without giving up its principles and being corrupted. I hope so. Tyler's statements seem to indicate that ON wants to cooperate and work with government. How is it going to do that when most governments today are...well do I need to be explicit? Tyler's responses to me have been encouraging. He has welcomed me to continue posting here. I am just getting warmed up. I have a lot to say of a radical nature, and I need to show enough of my cards so that people can put distance between themselves and me. I need to say that I speak for no one but myself. I don't want to taint anyone or any group with my element, be it fringe, radical, extreme, weird, unacceptable or whatever. I have things to say that I feel need to be said. I do not claim to be right but I do claim the right to say them. I abide by the rule not to shout fire in a theater--unless there is a fire. I believe there is a fire that is threatening Ojai, and it is not a day fire. The OP covered the Day Fire without peer, and I hope it will also cover the intangible fire that is threatening Ojai. How the ON covers or covers up (with silence) the real firestorm coming remains unknown. Working with government and the forces that control government works if we're on the same page. But what if you have to oppose those forces? What if it's a question of truth vs. money? Then what? What if it's a question of truth vs. survival? Then what? Dylan said something like: "To be honest, you have to live outside the law." Unfortunately, that is how far "law" has removed itself from honesty. The free press is the key to our survival as a free people. OP has so far stood the test. I hope ON will continue in that tradition.

Thanks Tyler. I went to Suza's site as offered and it works great. How the xxxx I never new of that function is beyond me. Works great! Again thanks, something as simple as a little piece of knowledge opens doors errrr eyes.